Due 4/19/2021 @11:30 PM 7-8 Pages APA format *Please Follow Instructions*
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Test Development Proposal: Step One
Jane Doe
The University of Arizona Global Campus
RES7402: Advanced Tests & Measurements (QAH114DS)
Dr. John Doe
April 5, 2021
Test Development Proposal: Step One
Bushnell et al. 2019, describes depression disorder as disorder that affects an individual's mood, usually making them has an unrelenting feeling of sadness and interest loss (p.908). The condition leads to a variety of physical and emotional problems. The patients, therefore, experience trouble doing day-to-day activities. Older adults and women are at a high risk of this condition. Understanding the complexities 0f depression, diagnosis, and treatment has never been more critical, whether developing a better understanding of depression to an individual’s personal life, a team, and an organization that directly impacts communities. A better understanding of depression is also fundamental in offering innovative leadership ideas on handling this condition. This is especially very important because data illustrates that there are a lot of deaths that are attributed to depression.
In this construct, various characteristics can be assessed, but I will be assessing the symptoms of this condition in this case. Various characteristics are present to people suffering from this condition. Some of the characteristics include feelings of sadness and interest loss, suicidal tendencies, disturbed or lack of sleep, isolation, inactivity, low self-esteem, guilt, disturbed eating patterns, and overwhelming feelings. Most of the available instruments assess almost these entire characteristics, so it is essential to address them.
Tests and Instruments
The most widely used screening tools for depression among the elderly is the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). It is significant because of its validity and reliability (Guerin et al., 2018). GDS is a screening test that helps in the identification of depression symptoms in the aged group. Patients answer questions in a yes/no format. The questions asked how a high connection with depressive symptoms such as enjoyment level interest and social interaction, among others. The patient needs to be evaluated further if they get a score of 5 or above. This tool's significant advantage is it is easy and quick, taking less than 7 minutes to complete. However, its challenge is that it has been observed that some people may extend the time further as they may want to expound further regarding their issues. The assessor, therefore, has a duty of redirecting the patient back to the question time and again. Similarly, some people are too much into a depression that they find it difficult to answer the question, while others do not wish to answer some personal questions.
PHQ9
One of the most valuable tests is depression screening, also known as PHQ9. This is a criteria-based diagnosis of depressive disorder that is very reliable and valid in measuring the symptoms of depression. The is nine-item tests that closely follow the components of depression identified in APA guidelines. It assesses an individual’s sleeping pattern and other related factors. “This is where a questionnaire with the question is used with a score that ranges from 0- 3” according to Levis et al., 2019. This is not a screening tool, but rather it is used to monitor the severity of depression and how the patient responds to treatment. It is, however, used in diagnosing depression in the population at risk, such in people with stroke or coronary diseases. However, the major limitation is that PHQ-9 helps to screen but does not offer a diagnosis.
Hamilton Rating Scale
This is a tool that is used in quantifying the rigorousness of depression symptoms. It is one of the most extensively used and acknowledged tools that assess depression, making it valid and reliable. “The HRSD has demonstrated reliability, validity, and efficiency in older adults. It contains 17 items, and it is rated on a 3- or 5-point scale with the sum of all the items summed to make up the total score” (Nixon et al, 2020, p.6). A patient can yield a score of 0-61, and clinical cutoff scores range from 14-20. 17 is the most common score. This tool's primary limitation is that it is administered by a clinician, making it vulnerable to loyalty effects and other related factors, which means the questions can be influenced (Carrozzino et al., 2020).
DSM-5 Manual
DSM-5 is a manual that is used when assessing and diagnosing mental disorders. It is one of the most valid and reliable tools for patients of all age groups. It helps to identify the nature of illness by examining the symptoms that a patient is presenting. DSM-5 diagnoses help health professionals in understanding their clients by directing their intercession from an evidence-based standpoint. DSM-5 is organized into three sections. The first section gives an introduction and information regarding organizational features of professional, expert review, texts, field trials, and public. The other section comprises diagnostic criteria and codes. The last and the third segments deal with measures of a glossary and conditions warranting more studies.
American Psychological Association Depression Guideline
The American Psychological Association (APA) created these guideline to provide recommendations for the treatment of multiple depressive disorders. This guideline serves as one of the accessible tools used in analyzing depression symptoms and treatment options. The tool is, more focused on the depression treatment recommendations for all age groups. This means that it covers the whole population. It reviews strategic steps from early psychiatric management to treatment termination (Bushnell et al., 2020). The tool has various tables that illustrate various aspects. This tool's primary limitation is that it does not focus much on the diagnosis like the treatment; proper diagnosis is a crucial step for the success of any illness.
References
Bushnell, D. M., McCarrier, K. P., Bush, E. N., Abraham, L., Jamieson, C., McDougall, F., Trivedi, M. H., Thase, M. E., Carpenter, L., & Coons, S. J. (2019). Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder Scale: Performance of a Novel Patient-Reported Symptom Measure. Value in Health : The Journal of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, 22(8), 906–915. https://doi-org.proxy-library.ashford.edu/10.1016/j.jval.2019.02.010
Carrozzino, D., Patierno, C., Fava, G. A., & Guidi, J. (2020). The Hamilton Rating Scales for Depression: a critical review of clinometric properties of different versions. Psychotherapy and psychosomatics, 89(3), 133-150.
Guerin, J. M., Copersino, M. L., & Schretlen, D. J. (2018). Clinical utility of the 15-item geriatric depression scale (GDS-5) for use with young and middle-aged adults. Journal of affective disorders, 241, 59-62.
Levis, B., Benedetti, A., & Thombs, B. D. (2019). Accuracy of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for screening to detect major depression: Individual participant data meta-analysis. BMJ: British Medical Journal, 365.
Nixon, N., Guo, B., Garland, A., Kaylor-Hughes, C., Nixon, E., & Morriss, R. (2020). The bi-factor structure of the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale in persistent major depression; dimensional measurement of outcome. PLoS ONE, 15(10), 1–13. https://doi-org.proxy-library.ashford.edu/10.1371/journal.pone.0241370